The Secret of Chimneys

Little did Anthony Cade suspect that an errand for a friend would place him at the center of a deadly conspiracy. Drawn into a web of intrigue, he begins to realize that the simple favor has placed him in serious danger.

Delightful to listen again and again.

Hugh Fraser narrated the story very well, gave each character life and personality.

Reviewed on November 23 2012
by Bernard
(Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)

The Secret of Chimneys

Little did Anthony Cade suspect that a simple errand on behalf of a friend would make him the centrepiece of a murderous international conspiracy. Someone would stop at nothing to prevent the monarchy being restored in faraway Herzoslovakia. The combined forces of Scotland Yard and the French Surete can do no better than go in circles - until the final murder at Chimneys, the great country estate that yields up an amazing secret.

The Seven Dials Mystery

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance....

Stunning ending

I couldn't believe the ending...never had clue. This was an enjoyable story, and the tie-in to The Secret of Chimneys was an added pleasure. ..Show More »r/>I had to warm up to the narrator and would hesitate to buy an audiobook with her as the reader again. She has a nasal, high-pitched voice that is jarring to the ear. Diana Bishop (Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver series) has a cultured, smooth voice that would be better suited to classic British country house mysteries.

The Seven Dials Mystery

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other house guests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6.30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing, and the prank had backfired with tragic consequences. For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "seven dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance.

Five stars for Seven Dials

The vivacious and spirited Bundle Brent from 'The Secret of Chimneys' returns in this novel, this time taking the front seat. As much as everyone love..Show More »s the favourite detectives, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, there seems to be more room for character development in Christie's other (and less well known) novels, such as this. Bundle's adventures - from the secrets of foreign countesses to the seedy Seven Dials club - keeping you riveted from beginning to end. Emilia Fox's narration adds colour and excitement, and her understanding of Christie's humour affords the listener many laughs along the way. An easy five stars for this one - will keep you glued to your iPod.

Cards on the Table: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

Mr. Shaitana is famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he is a man of whom everybody is a little afraid. So when he boasts to Hercule Poirot that he considers murder an art form, the detective has some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's "private collection". Indeed, what begins as an absorbing evening of bridge is to turn into a more dangerous game altogether.

this is a great Christie mystery

Some of Agatha Christie's mysteries are more about characters and some are more about mystery, and this is one of the latter. That's not to say that ..Show More »the characters are poor, only that the mystery itself takes center stage. It's a real whodunnit: A dinner party includes 4 criminals, whom the host claims to know have each gotten away with murder, and 4 sleuths, both professionals and amateurs......and while the 4 criminals are in a room playing bridge, one of them quietly and secretly murders the host. Whodunnit, and how will Poirot figure it out? Keep listening and find out.

Cards on the Table

Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's private collection.

Murder Is Easy

Luke Fitzwilliam does not believe Miss Pinkerton's wild allegation that a multiple murderer is at work in the quiet English village of Wychwood and that her local doctor is next in line. But within hours, Miss Pinkerton has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Mere coincidence? Luke is inclined to think so - until he reads in the Times of the unexpected demise of Wychwood's Dr. Humbleby.

Entertaining with Twists and Turns

I enjoyed the characters in Murder Is Easy, though Christie again adds one of those love at first sight subplots that I find hard to accept. The plot ..Show More »twists keep you guessing until the end. This is sometimes billed as a Superintendent Battle story but be warned, he only shows up in the last chapter or two and is really an afterthought. Any Superintendent would have done the job.

Murder is Easy

Luke Fitzwilliam could not believe Miss Pinkerton's wild allegation that a multiple murderer was at work in the quiet English village of Wychwood, or her speculation that the local doctor was next in line. But, within hours, Miss Pinkerton had been killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Mere coincidence? Luke was inclined to think so, until he read in The Times of the unexpected demise of Dr Humbleby.

Towards Zero

What is the connection among a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a house party gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. As Superintendent Battle discovers, it is all part of a carefully laid plan - for murder.

'Towards Zero' and 'Ordeal by Innocence'

Towards Zero: What is the connection among a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a house party gathers at Gull’s Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. Ordeal By Innocence: According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment.

Two outstanding mysteries

These are not only two "murder mysteries", I would characterize them as "literature". The story lines are vintage Agatha Christie, intricate and baffl..Show More »ing. But more than that, the books are literate and carry consistent and thoughtful themes throughout. Aside from their entertainment value. these books would be perfect textbooks for a class in how to write.

Towards Zero

What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. But when a houseparty gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head. It's all part of a carefully paid plan for murder.